Naomi Bateman, a 34-year-old woman described as 'deeply kind and gentle,' has died after a short battle with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a rare and aggressive form of the disease. She was the daughter of former Warrington and Wales rugby star Allan Bateman.
Diagnosis and Rapid Decline
Naomi was diagnosed with TNBC, a fast-growing cancer with limited treatment options. Despite undergoing a mastectomy, the cancer returned within three months. Allan Bateman told Wales Online: 'We thought she was in the clear when she had the mastectomy. It came back within three months. Within 10 weeks, she had passed away. There were no treatment options.'
The family sought trials worldwide but found little hope. 'We'd tried all over the world, with trials and such. But with this particular cancer, there was very little you could do,' Allan said. 'We thought we would have more time. We were hoping for a couple of years, but it just didn't happen. It's devastating.'
Fundraising and Awareness Campaign
In Naomi's memory, Allan Bateman will run the Cardiff Half Marathon in October alongside Naomi's husband and close friends. The team aims to raise money for Cancer Research and increase awareness of TNBC. Allan emphasized the importance of early detection: 'Early detection before it spreads is paramount. It's important that if women and girls find something, they act on it very sharply.'
Allan, who works in chemical pathology, admitted he was unaware of this cancer type before his daughter's diagnosis. 'If I don't know, there must be loads of people who aren't aware. That's why it's so important,' he said.
A Tribute to Naomi
On a fundraising page, Allan paid tribute to his daughter: 'There are some people who move through the world with a gentleness that leaves a lasting mark on everyone they meet. That was my daughter, Naomi.' He described her as 'a soul completely full of love, life and an unwavering kindness' who chose a vegan lifestyle out of love for animals. He also recalled her 'wonderful, beautifully screechy, entirely infectious laugh.'
Allan added: 'Cancer is a cruel, relentless thief. It took her from us far too soon, leaving a void in our family and in the hearts of everyone who loved her that can never be filled. The grief of losing a child is a heavy, suffocating weight. But Naomi did not leave us empty-handed; she left us with her legacy of love, and a reminder to live as fiercely and kindly as she did.'
A link to donate is available on the fundraising page.
